9 Experience Gift Ideas for For Vegans This Christmas

Looking for Christmas gift experiences that are just right for your plant-based friends or family? Our curated picks make it easy to find something they'll love this holiday season! Experiences make some of the most thoughtful Christmas gifts for vegans, because they create memories instead of clutter. No matter what their interests are or where they live, you can give them something that fits their lifestyle and provides lasting memories this Christmas. ClassBento has a range of cooking, baking, arts, and crafts experiences that are vegan-friendly and make unique gifts.

Whether you're shopping for vegan Christmas presents that help someone escape the winter chill or just keep cozy on a rainy weekend, there are plenty of ways to stay busy and well-fed without the use of animal products. More and more people are embracing plant-based living for their health and for the planet. If you or someone you love is vegan, read on for our curated list of the best gifts for vegans, sure to delight everyone on your list!

1. Try vegan Indian cooking classes

If you're looking for the perfect gift for a vegan in your life who loves to travel, why not consider a vegan Indian cooking class? Not only will they have the opportunity to further develop their culinary skills, but they will also learn how to prepare delicious and authentic Indian dishes in a vegan-friendly way. Cooking classes are fantastic Christmas presents for vegans because they allow them to explore and expand their knowledge of plant-based cooking, specifically in the context of Indian cuisine. They will walk away with a wealth of new recipes and techniques that they can incorporate into their own cooking repertoire, making it easier than ever to enjoy the rich flavors of Indian curries and dals.

If you're in San Jose, gift this South Indian vegan cooking class with chef instructor Parsati Maji, where your loved one will take a journey through India without having to leave the city. Together, you'll master crispy dosas, fluffy appe, and a slow-simmered sambar, all naturally vegan and gluten-free. Cooking side by side also makes this one of the sweetest vegan gifts for couples! As one ClassBento guest shared in their glowing 5-star review:

“My husband and I received this class as a gift and what a wonderful gift it was! Chef Parsati had so much great knowledge and was able to explain things in a way that made sense to us. We walked away learning how to make some new dishes, but also observed several things she did that we could apply to cooking other things at home... We definitely recommend!” — Audrey Y.

2. Relax with organic skincare making

Are you looking for gift ideas for beauty gurus? Spoil them with a skincare-making experience that aligns with their ethos! If your friend or loved one is passionate about clean beauty, handmade lip balms and lotions make some of the loveliest cruelty-free Christmas gifts around.

In these hands-on classes, they'll learn all about using natural ingredients and discover how to create their own beauty products using plant-based butters, balms, and essential oils. In NYC, this plant-based lip balm making class in Lincoln Square with The Handmade Hub is a dream. Founder Rosemary has more than 20 years of teaching experience and guides every step, from weighing waxes to choosing scents to filling your very own tubes and tins. Why not head along together for a bit of bonding and leave with a stash of all-natural lip balms to share? One ClassBento regular summed it up perfectly in their 5-star review:

“Rosemary is such a welcoming and generous soul. She explained every step thoughtfully and offers such a wonderful variety of workshops! The lip balm is all natural, clean, and nourishing. The workspace is a vibrant oasis in the heart of Manhattan, and I had such a lovely time learning a new skill and chatting with Rosemary.” — Munmun O.

3. Switch off with a mindful tea tasting

Tea is a beloved beverage for vegans and non-vegans alike, so what better experience than mindfully sipping sustainable and ethical tea? Tea classes are great Christmas gifts for vegans in your life who need a little nudge to take some time out.

The slow process of brewing tea invites you to slow down, tap into your senses, and simply enjoy the present moment. This online tea tasting class with Nepal Tea Collective arrives as a kit on their doorstep, with four organic teas, glass tasting cups, and even a mystery tea to identify. Host Nish is a second-generation tea producer from Nepal whose family has nurtured tea leaves for more than 40 years, and every tea in the kit is vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free. 

Because the kit ships anywhere in the US, it's one of the easiest vegan Xmas gifts for faraway friends and family. Whether it’s a blending class where you make your own DIY blends or a tasting class where you can simply watch and sip, these workshops are bound to light up the plant-based people in your life these holidays, and they make some of the most thoughtful Christmas gifts for vegans you’ll find!

4. Try vegan Mexican cooking classes

If the vegan in your life is an enthusiastic cook, why not treat them to a food-filled adventure? They can take a class in Mexican cuisine and learn how to transform the classics into yummy vegan delights. Cooking classes make wonderful vegan Christmas presents for anyone who is new to plant-based eating and hasn't had the time (or confidence) to start cooking more interesting meals at home yet. They'll gain plenty of practical skills to use later on when experimenting in their own kitchen, plus Mexican-inspired vegan recipes to add to their repertoire.

In Chicago, rally the crew for this crunchy taco Mexican cooking class on the Near West Side, hosted by Classpop! at Wolf Point Distilling. Chef Demeisha brings more than a decade of culinary experience and will show your group how to shape and crisp fresh corn tortillas, then pile them high with a flavorful veggie and vegan filling, cilantro, and onions. It's a festive pick for a holiday get-together with friends who love a good taco night!

5. Soy candle making for fragrance lovers

If you're looking for present ideas for crafty vegans, our soy candle making workshops are the perfect experience gifts to give! They'll learn all about how custom candles are made and why plant-based waxes make great alternatives to beeswax or petroleum-based candles. During the class, they'll also pick up tips on how to create beautiful fragrance blends using essential oils like patchouli, rose, and lavender. Candle classes are good gifts for vegans and non-vegans alike, and a fun indoor activity that anyone will love!

Soy candle making classes are an easy way to teach someone how to create their very own homemade vegan candles from scratch. Not only will your giftee have a lot of fun turning something simple into something beautiful, but they'll also leave knowing exactly what's inside the candles they burn at home. If you're hunting for gift ideas for vegans in New York, you can't go past this vegan candle making class with reused wine bottles in Ridgewood with Nerd DNA. The team fuses creativity with sustainability, so your loved one will give an old wine bottle a fragrant second life and walk away with a creation they made themselves!

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6. Make vegan desserts

Good news for sweet tooths: being vegan never means skipping dessert! There are plenty of delicious plant-based dessert options now, and no one has to miss out on sweets. At vegan-friendly baking and cake decorating classes, you can learn how to transform simple ingredients into a masterpiece, crafting swirls, flowers, patterns, and more. Or make other treats free of animal products, like vegan macarons, chocolate, and cinnamon rolls.

In Los Angeles, this plant based gluten-free cupcake baking class in Downtown West with Plant Based Chef Anabell is pure joy in a cupcake liner. Chef Anabell Pariser cooks with organic ingredients and no refined sugars, and she'll guide you through baking vanilla-blueberry and rich chocolate cupcakes, then piping them with silky vegan buttercream. For the dessert lover on your list, it's one of the best vegan gifts you can give!

7. Cook a vegan Italian feast

Pasta lovers, this one's for you! A vegan Italian cooking class proves that plant-based comfort food can be every bit as indulgent as the classics. It's one of the most delicious Christmas presents for vegans who dream of creamy sauces and fresh pasta.

In San Francisco, this vegan Italian cooking class in Potrero Hill with The Foodery is a cozy, sit-down celebration. Chef Daniel Morduchowicz, originally from Argentina, has spent nearly four decades soaking up California's diverse cuisines, and he loves teaching fundamentals so you never need to rely on a recipe. Together, you'll make a creamy vegan tomato soup, extrude S-shaped strozzapretti for a vegan bolognesa, toss a Mediterranean salad with vegan ricotta, and finish with a baked apple and vegan ice cream. Gather 6 or more of your favorite people, because it's a wonderful pick for a festive group dinner!

8. Explore vegan Japanese cooking

For the adventurous eater who's always chasing new flavors, a vegan Japanese cooking class is a beautiful way to discover how naturally plant-based so many Japanese dishes can be. Learning to balance umami-rich ingredients like miso, soy, and seaweed makes these classes some of the most fun gifts for vegans who love to get creative in the kitchen.

In Seattle, this vegan Japanese cooking class in Beacon Hill with Prune Kitchen guides you through five plant-based dishes, including colorful chirashi sushi and tender braised tofu. Best of all, your giftee will go home with recipes they can recreate all winter long, perfect for those drizzly Pacific Northwest evenings!

9. Make artisan vegan cheese

Cheese, glorious cheese! Enjoying a plant-based lifestyle doesn't mean giving up this decadent indulgence. Learning to make it from scratch is one of the most cool vegan gifts for anyone who has ever missed a good cheese board.

In the Bay Area, this artisan vegan cheese making class in Woodside with Jillian Love shows you step by step how to craft beautiful vegan cheeses using nuts, herbs, and spices. Jillian is the founder of Visionary Nourishment, a whole-food plant-based chef who has led retreats and chef trainings, and she shares her favorite techniques before you team up with classmates to create your own flavors. The class wraps up with a cheerful show-and-tell tasting party, making it one of the most memorable vegan Christmas presents for a group of friends of 4 or more!

Give the gift of plant-based fun

Still deciding? A ClassBento gift card lets your herbivorous loved one choose the class and date that suit them best, so it's an easy win when you're unsure which of these Christmas gift ideas for vegans they'll love most. Plus, ClassBento donates to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) with every booking, so your gift spreads a little extra love! From dosas to tacos to dreamy vegan cheese, hands-on experiences truly are some of the best Christmas gifts for vegans. Here’s to a merry, memory-filled season full of thoughtful Christmas presents for vegans and the people who love them. May your stockings be stuffed and your holidays be tree-mendously plant-tastic!

Need more gift ideas for your entire friend group? Find the perfect presents and save some jingle with these DIY Christmas gifts!